With young Billy Elliot currently prancing on stage in the West End, it’s hardly a shock to find the movie has been repackaged for a tie-in DVD release. And while it’s hardly the saviour of British cinema some claimed, Billy remains a surprisingly thoughtful coming-of-age drama set against the unglamorous background of the ’80s miners’ strike. Jamie Bell utterly convinces as miserable Billy, happy only when his toes are tapping, with sterling support from Gary Lewis as his beaten, broken and desperate dad. Pity about grating turns from Bell’s co-starring sprogs and Julie Walters’ trashy, mannered dance teacher.
DVD Extras:
Peculiarly, there's no director's commentary - although Stephen Daldry has found the time to talk over a segment looking at the film's music, as well as a group of occasionally illuminating deleted/extended scenes. An average Making Of doesn't offer anything new, while the snippets of Elton John and the stage-show sprogs is simply cynical.
